The three-game sweep of the NHL schedule from Saturday starts in Dallas, where the Stars derailed the Washington Capitals, 5-4, in a back and forth contest.
“That was up and down. We controlled the game, we didn’t control the game, we fought back, scored a couple, and then hung on for dear life,” Stars coach Lindy Ruff said. “We made some big mistakes at just critical times of the game.”
Antoine Roussel and Jamie Benn scored just 16 apart early in the third period to give the Stars a two-goal lead and some cushion as the Caps continued to challenge and respond.
Ruff had praise for AHL call-up, Jyrki Jokipakka, who chipped in with two assists on the night.
“I thought he played great,” Ruff said of Jokipakka. “Started just a little slow, but I thought he played great. It was a decision whether I was going to play him, but I’m glad I played him because he’s got good size.”
Jokipakka was recalled from the AHL’s Stars Texas after Trevor Daley was held back from the game for an upper body injury.
Neither team had complete control of the match as the Caps rallied back from a 3-0 deficit to tie on an Alex Ovechkin goal 21 seconds into the third period.
“We sort of dug ourselves a hole a little bit obviously,” Washington coach Barry Trotz said. “Against a transition team like Dallas, you can’t turn it over. I thought we were better as the game went on there. Every time we got away from it, they’re in transition.”
In San Jose, the Sharks lost to the Calgary Flames on an overtime goal from Sean Monahan.
“When you put the puck in the net it gives you the confidence,” Monahan said. “Once you get one I think they start coming. Lucky enough I got another one tonight and hopefully I can keep rolling.”
It was Monahan’s fourth OT marker in 120 career games. As reported by Elias Sports Bureau he is now the youngest NHLer to pot four career OT goals.
“Everybody that plays hockey, they want to be the difference maker and I think in those times it’s do or die,” Monahan said. “I want to be that guy to make the difference and lucky enough sometimes that happens.”
The Sharks were happy to get a point from a game they should have lost in regulation.
“We got what we deserved,” Sharks coach Todd McLellan said. “And we are probably fortunate that we got (a point). The start was unacceptable, to a man. There’s nights where we don’t execute or are sloppy. Sometimes it’s only half a team. Tonight was a full team. We’re fortunate to have a point.
“We need to realize that. That start itself was unacceptable. We had a couple of video clips that we showed between periods. I think that humbled a few people and made them aware of what was really going on in the period.”
In St Louis, the Blues whitewashed the Toronto Maple Leafs, 3-0, and “whitewash” is probably the best term for the win. The Leafs almost certainly want this season whitewashed.
Brian Elliott was busy most of the game making 27 saves on the night for the win in his return to form.
“I thought he had a lot of work to do,” Blues coach Ken Hitchcock said. “This is, for me, the best he’s played; not just because he got a shutout, but this is the best he’s played since coming back from the injury, for sure. He had work today because we gave up odd-man rushes. We don’t normally do that, but we gave up some. They were interesting odd-man rushes because that’s the first time in a long time where we played a team that was able to create turnovers in their own zone that led to odd-man rushes. He had some saves he had to make today.”
Elliot’s control over his game and the Leafs’ efforts was dominant.
“I just wanted to kind of take the ‘no prisoners’ approach,” Elliott said. “Just go out there and worry about my own game and everybody else takes care of the rest outside of me, and I was able to do that.”
Toronto lost all four games of their road trip in regulation and were shut out three times. On the trip, they were outscored 12-1.
The Leafs have not responded to anything this season including the firing of their head coach Randy Carlyle and have gone a mind-numbing 15-0 since interim coach Peter Horachek was placed behind the bench.
The futility of the Leafs’ efforts is highlighted in their ability to score one goal in the last 241:13 of play.
“The bottom line is we’re on a road trip and we’re going home 0-4,” Toronto’s Dion Phaneuf said. “I don’t think there’s much more to sugarcoat it. The bottom line is we went on a trip and we are coming home with no points. It’s unacceptable. We did a lot of good things, but the bottom line is we didn’t win hockey games and we didn’t get points, so it’s about winning games and getting points.
“A huge trip for our team and we come back with zero so it’s disappointing.”
Zero points, zero effort.
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